Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“I was a man, Mam.”
“You were—”
“Twenty-three, I believe. A man.”
“You tried to kill yourself because of Tatum’s quest to catch a pedophile. I understood her reasoning; she needed help. But some poor soul died, and you—you, almost … I let her know it was unacceptable behavior.”
Jamie groaned. I understood him completely. Jamie had helped Tatum in their twenties. His mom made it seem like Tatum had asked him—a mere little boy at the time—for a favor.
Big Brody gave my hand a firm shake. “Jordyn, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Same,” I said.
Nan smiled and shook my hand. “Jordyn, what’s your last name, dear?”
“I don’t, uh …” My suddenly sweaty palm worked over the side of my thigh. My mind fixated on the fake birth certificate. Just say Greene, Jordy! Nah. It seemed utterly stupid to mention Camdyn’s wife’s family name, especially under his and his brother’s watchful eyes.
“Doesn’t matter,” Jamie said, “it’ll be MacKenzie once I’ve corrected a few issues.”
Oh? Jamie telling me he wanted to marry me was so not Jamie telling his parents he wanted me.
Jamie started toward his brothers. “Leith, mind if we change keys. Your ride is too flashy for my needs.”
“Yeah.” His brother chewed his lip, fishing keys from his pocket. “I screwed up, bràthair. I called Nolan—”
“When?” Jamie snatched the keys from his hand.
“Monday of last week. First thing in the morning.”
I gasped. “We’d been doing our own thing all this time. Five months,” I spoke to Jamie’s steely spine as if he needed a reminder.
Jamie turned around to address us all, slipping the key into his pocket. “And Chelomey quickly secured the team that came after—”
“What team?” Big Brody barked.
“Long story. No time.” As Jamie spoke, his voice held a faraway tone. “It’s good you all are here. Well, most of you. Jordyn needs protection.”
“Jordyn is in the room, and where are you going?” I growled. “You can’t just pawn me off on people … ahem.” In a room where my beautiful dark color stood out, I felt extra seen. I extracted my foot from my mouth and clamped my lips shut.
“I like you.” Leith grinned, the smile eons different from the frown he’d offered when I walked out of his brother’s house.
“Me too,” Dodger cap guy flashed a smile that could light up the dark. He nodded. “I’m Lachlan.”
“Boy five?” I arched a brow.
“Five of seven, yep. But let’s just say I’m also the best the MacKenzies had to offer.” He winked. He really had a nice voice. A few years younger than Jamie and a few inches shorter—maybe six foot three—he had a laid-back confidence. Yeah, that was it. While the same words might sound prideful from anyone else’s mouth to my ears, his self-assurance made me like the guy.
I shook his hand, large and powerful.
“All lies,” said the next guy, who stood head-to-head with Lachlan. He had a leaner build, but he wore faded jeans and a white T-shirt like they were made for him. The kind of look that turned heads.
“You’re number six? Rory.” He was the brother Jamie said fell in love with every girl in high school. And not like a player. Jamie said he’d had it bad. Great, I’d almost met all the MacKenzie brothers. Except for Baby Jake. I didn’t mind waiting to meet him, though. Jamie seemed to be annoyed by how Jake offered unsolicited clinical assessments and hadn’t quite gotten his PhD yet.
“Or Romeo,” Mr. Rory Pompadour winked. Man, he had perfect hair. “Just call me Romeo.”
Cute. But too young. He had to be twenty-five, twenty-six? And he had no job, from what Jamie said. If he kept flirting, I’d suggest he become a social media influencer and give me 10 percent.
“Don’t be too kind to Jordyn, Rory,” Jamie said, an order, not a suggestion. He then turned his narrowed gaze on Lachlan. “You either, Lach, or I’ll break those money-making legs.” Jamie patted Lachlan’s shoulder. While I wondered about those legs and athletic build, Jamie attacked Leith with a hard shoulder pat. “And you too. Your wife will get to attack the scraps that are left after I kill you. Maybe she’ll even use that katana she got from Michie again, big brother.”
“Can I get in on this?” Camdyn chuckled. The glint in his eyes teasing.
Jamie growled, “Don’t—”
“Jordyn, you’re just what my brother needs. See, I didn’t even compliment her on being too beautiful for you, Jamie, like our cheesy little brothers.”
Lachlan scoffed. “No one has ever called me cheesy.”
“How about you all drop it? And make sure Jordyn is safe.” Jamie strode to the closet next to the front door and removed the backpack. He knelt down and tugged out bricks of cash on the ground. Our identification. All that remained was …
That reliable gun he had to put together.
“You want to kill someone?” I asked.